Genetically Modified Food and Prop 37

Bi 5c ( p. 73 of your notebook)

There are many different types of food… Organic Natural Vegetarian Vegan Industrial Agriculture ( made with

pesticides and fertilizers) Genetically Modified ( GM)

Organic Food

Food made without pesticides and fertilizers

No artificial methods ex. Chemical ripening

Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990

95% Organic ( U.S.)

In the UK, non-GM

Natural Food widely-used, vague

term to describe food that are minimally processed and do not contain artificial ingredients

Not man-made

No legal definition in the U.S.

Vegetarian Food Food not including

meat and animal tissue products

Lacto-ovo vegetarianism-> eggs, dairy products are ok

Lacto vegetarianism-> dairy products ( milk, cheese) are ok

Religious, cultural, health, ethical reasons

Vegan Food No meat, no animal

products including milk, eggs, honey, cheese, yogurt

Dietary vegan-someone who eats vegan food

Ethical vegan- a dietary vegan who believes that industrial farming of animals is environmentally damaging, unsustainable and unethical.

Industrial Food

Food made through industrial production of livestock, poultry, fish and crops

Techno-scientific methods, large production and markets

Most food in our supermarkets

Genetically Modified Food Industrial food made

using genetic engineering

Roundup Ready Soybeans-85% of soybeans (93% animal feed)

Canola ( margarine, cooking oil, lipsticks) 93% of canola

86% of corn

Prop 37 ( Nov. 6, 2012 Ballot)Requires labeling of GM food

Prohibits labeling food with GM as “natural”

Exempt from this requirement foods that are "certified organic; unintentionally produced with genetically engineered material; made from animals fed or injected with genetically engineered material but not genetically engineered themselves; processed with or containing only small amounts of genetically engineered ingredients; administered for treatment of medical conditions; sold for immediate consumption such as in a restaurant; or alcoholic beverages."

Pros and Cons of GM Food Read the article ( each person will

have a different viewpoint)

Work with your team to fill-out the T-chart

Pros and Cons of GM Food(exemplar)

PROS CONS

-safe to eat-higher nutritional value-better for us

-might introduce new allergies

-Resistant to pests-Cheaper to produce

-large companies will charge too much for their GM seeds- too expensive for poor countries

SUMMARY: One controversial issue is genetically modified food. People who are for GM food argue that GM food is good because it is safe to eat and resistant to pests. On the other hand, people who are against GM food contend that GM food is bad because it might introduce new allergies and too expensive for small farmers.